Naomi Makowska May 2026

In January 2026, she began a three-year term as a Website Administrator for the Society for the Study of Early Modern Women and Gender , managing digital outreach and scholarly resources.

She holds both a Master of Arts (MA) and a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in History from the University of Toronto .

is a distinguished historian and scholar specializing in the social and cultural history of early modern Italy. Her research primarily examines the intersections of gender, religion, and the production of knowledge, with a particular focus on how non-elite women navigated the legal and social boundaries of the 16th and 17th centuries. naomi makowska

Exploring how sex workers, magical practitioners, and women of diverse religious backgrounds (Christian and Jewish) acted as "gatekeepers" of forbidden information.

Analyzing the circulation of "love magic" and the conjuring of spirits among women. In January 2026, she began a three-year term

Her research has been supported by prestigious funding bodies, including the and the Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS) . Research Specialization: Forbidden Knowledge

Naomi Makowska: Uncovering Forbidden Knowledge in Early Modern Italy Her research primarily examines the intersections of gender,

During her time at Queen’s University, she designed and taught specialized undergraduate courses, such as "Women in Early Modern Italy, 1500-1700," which explores the lives of noblewomen, nuns, and "witches".

Makowska’s academic journey is rooted in Canadian institutions known for their rigorous historical research:

She completed her doctoral studies at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario, successfully defending her dissertation in November 2025.